Infinite. Indefinite.

7.Dost•Friend

Inhale

Exhale

Inhale

Exhale

Inhale

"Excuse me!"

I'm startled awake. My eyes snap open. I can feel a headache coming on due to insufficient REM cycles. I take stock of what I feel. I feel heavy and tired but I'm also comfortable and warm. I look around around me; I'm still in the hotel room. My gaze stops at a man. A silver fox if you will. And he looks mad.

I jump off the bed and in my haste, my foot gets tangled in the duvet and I trip. I'm about to fall over and land straight on the money maker. My fall, though, is stopped by strong arms.

I'm left with my heart on the floor and my breathing arrested indefinitely.

"Careful Miss. I'd rather not have a dead body on my conscience this trip," the old man drily remarked.

"I'm sorry." I steady and extricate myself from the man and scuttle to put on my shoes. "I didn't mean to intrude. Or no, I did, but not in a malicious way. I'm sorry. I'll just go. I don't mean harm or anything," the man in front of me is distinguished. Definitely worthy of staying in a room like this. And it's making me nervous. "I'm sorry. Bye." Once my shoes are on, make a run for the door. This was a bad idea. Why didn't I see this before? This was a majorly bad idea.

"Before you leave, I think I deserve an explanation as to how a young woman like yourself ended up in my bed." I stop in my tracks, my cheeks burning at the insinuation.

"Was it Jonathan? I bet it was. He has the propensity to get carried away. I do apologize on his behalf Miss," the old man's voice was laced not with accusation or judgement but with resignation and exasperation. And maybe a little humor.

I turn towards him. I'm almost tempted to correct him but he doesn't look mad anymore. He's convinced himself that this was Jonathan's fault.

"I'm quite sorry for whatever he told you about me, dear. Do not trouble yourself with him. Jonathan has his heart in the right place but it can be quite misguided sometimes," the man sits down on the couch and gestures to the opposite facing couch for me to sit. "Although, you are definitely a break from the usual trend. You are very young. How old are you, my dear? Whatever it is, I say too young. That boy has crossed the threshold of sanity it seems," he sighs and the look on his face jolts my speech.

"Uh no. No I'm sorry. No... Jonathan didn't send me. I'm here... It's actually very funny. I mean... Well.." I'm suddenly very nervous. The man is now looking at me with his intelligent eyes and I feel like a naughty student being reprimanded by a principal.

His eyebrows furrow and he leans forward, his elbows on his knees and hands clasped together, "Well? How are you here?"

My heart is beating rapidly. Is what I've done considered illegal? Could I go to jail for this? Should I tell him? Oh God.

I look at the man and the intensity of his gaze makes me look away and I fidget absentmindedly. His eyes are not accusing or angry. So I guess I could just spill.

I laugh nervously, "well, you see, I was in Arizona. And uh... Well, I was on the PCT. Worst decision ever. Don't do it." I roll my eyes at the man.

He chuckles and says, "I never plan to."

"Well, good. Yeah, so I needed money. And I thought, 'Why not go to Vegas'," I use my 'excited' voice. "But I come here.... Something comes over me.. And I think 'Well might as well be rebellious and do something exciting'. Again worst decision ever. I should just not make decisions. I don't do them well. I don't know why I don't learn. But yeah, so yeah. I'm here. Oh, um, I got in here while the cleaning lady was here. No actually it wasn't exactly like that. While she was cleaning, I put this in the door lock thing," I pull out the piece of handkerchief from my pocket. "So that it doesn't lock when it closes." I clarify.

The man is looking at me with poorly concealed interest.

"I don't even know why I did it," I sigh and lean back in the sofa. "I guess I just wanted to. I was just going to have a look see, I think. Maybe. I... I-" I look up at the ceiling. I really don't know what I'm doing here. Or what I was going to do. "I think I was just going to, I don't know. I was about to leave but I sat on the bed," I look at man, "you have a really nice bed by the way. Very nice. I think it may have been the bed's fault, now that I think of it." I furrow my eyes in concentration. Yes I think that was it.

"I'm sure." The man lets out an amused sound but when I look up I only see a smirk.

"Anyway, well I was exhausted. So I think I laid down. It was just going to be a little while. I was going to be out before you came. I think I was just gonna sleep for a bit and then think about what to do next and leave. But it had been so long since I slept nicely and your bed... Ugh your bed is the reason all this is happening."

I look up contritely.

The man just shakes his head and laughs. "You have quite the story Miss."

"Darcy. My name is Darcy." I mumble to him, looking away embarrassed, "and it's the truth."

"Alright Ms Darcy, just to clarify, you are neither a hooker," my eyes snap back to the man in horror, "nor are you here for a blind date my son set you up on."

My jaw drops. Hooker? Blind date? Son?

"Your son sets you up on blind dates? With young women?" I ask with surprise.

The man only laughs even louder. "Well, he's been trying to get me on a date for a long time. I was going to be quite dissatisfied with him if you really did turn out to be an option. I don't think I've ever given him the impression I wanted to go on a date. That too with someone so much younger than myself."

I'm still shocked. "Hooker?"

The man gets up and walks to the minibar and retrieves a bottle of water, still laughing. "Would you like some water?"

Now that he mentions it, I realise I am very thirsty. I nod meekly.

He takes out another bottle of water and hands it to me. I open it and take long swigs.

After handing me the bottle, he goes and sits back on the couch, a small, warm smile on his face.

I finish the bottle and try to discreetly wipe my mouth. No luck. When I look up the man is looking at me and shaking his head.

"So are you mad at me?" I ask timidly.

The man looks taken aback and then laughs, "goodness no. Truthfully I'm not quite sure what to make of you Ms. Darcy. I'm Philip by the way. Philip Nicholson."

I'm relieved. "Thank you Philip." I set the empty bottle down and stand up. "I uh should be going. I'm sorry. Again." I make to walk away but Philip's voice stops me.

"Do you have a place to stay?"

I look at him. "Um I'll find somewhere."

His eyebrows furrow but he nods. "Money?"

"I have enough to find a motel. Don't worry."

Philip stands up and buttons his suit. "Do you have family nearby? Or friends?"

"It's ok. Really I can take care of myself." I reassure him.

He walks up to me and rests his old, wise eyes on me, "you will forgive me Darcy if I'd like to make absolute sure of that."

I don't know what to make of that. I gape at him.

"Now, would you do this old man the great favour of joining him for supper?" Philip smiles serenely at me.

Maybe it was the hunger pangs now building in my stomach. Or the fact that I had very little money and free, maybe expensive dinner sounded great to me. Or maybe the fact that this man was the first person to be nice to me in a while. It could have just been loneliness.

Whatever the reason was, I said yes.